Rock Band Fender Squier Stratocaster Pro Guitar Review

The Midi Pro-Adapter Review (retail $39.99 USD/CAD)

While the guitar is platform independent, you do need this little $40 add-on (a really hard to find add-on) in order to play on the console of your choosing. The Midi Pro-Adapter *is* console specific, so make sure you pick up the right one. There's not much to the device. It acts as a hub between your controller and your console, and converts the midi commands to ones that the console can understand and interpret. The Midi Pro-Adapter has a little switch marked "DKG" which lets you toggle between supported electronic drum kits, midi keyboards, and the Fender Squier Strat. Make sure to set the switch to "G" when you plug in the guitar--otherwise, it won't work.

Unfortunately, the device ONLY works with this guitar; you can't plug in another midi guitar to the adapter as a regular guitar lacks the special sensors found on Fender's Rock Band Strat.

The Midi Pro-Adapter also has the standard PS3/Xbox 360/Wii buttons (depending on the version) that you'd find on the console's controller (minus the Right/Left triggers). There's also a button labelled "Overdrive" which you can tap with your toe to activate Rock Band overdrive. These buttons stick out a fair bit from the adapter and, as such, are extremely easy to press when you need them.

The Midi Pro-Adapter is NOT wireless; You'll need to plug it into your console and then plug in your guitar (using the midi cable that comes with the guitar) to the device. As mentioned earlier, you'll need to also put batteries into the guitar (but not the adapter). The adapter does not transmit power; this is a bit of a bummer but not a dealbreaker, especially if you use rechargeable batteries. My only complaint with the adapter (besides availability, damn you Mad Catz!) is that, at least for the Playstation 3, it will not turn ON your console--it does turn it off, though. Other than that, it's a well-built device that works as intended.

But what about the gameplay, you ask? Keep on reading.